LABOUR failed to disclose its Hamilton by-election candidate worked for a scandal-hit company, prompting questions about transparency.
Davy Russell, who will contest the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, previously worked as a consultant to a subsidiary of Mears Group in North Lanarkshire.
Russell has refused to take part in a TV debate ahead of the by-election on June, and has been accused of being unable to “string a handful of words together”.
Last year it was alleged that Mears Scotland LLP had falsified at least 13,000 maintenance records, after a whistleblower reported the firm to the local authority’s auditors.
North Lanarkshire councillors then postponed signing a new £1.8 billion contract with the firm, that would have provided maintenance and repairs for the authority’s 36,700 council houses and every council building.
However, Russell’s links to Mears have not appeared on any party literature for the by-election, or his biography on the party’s website, the Guardian reports.
Russell told Scottish Labour in his application for the by-election candidacy that he worked for the firm as a part-time consultant, as well as an unpaid trustee for disabilities charity Sense Scotland.
Party officials told the Guardian that Russell worked for a Mears subsidiary two days a week from the start of 2025, until April when he was selected as a candidate.
Previously Russell worked as a senior official at Glasgow City Council.
Bianca Lopez, Glasgow chair of tenants' union Living Rent, said: "Mears Group have had controversy after controversy in Scotland with accusations of poor housing conditions and re-traumatising people with their accommodation.
“In England, they have been accused of overcharging for repairs.
"Our MSPs need to represent all of their constituents, asylum seekers included. There is clearly a deep conflict here.
“Right now, asylum seekers and refugees need as much protection as possible. Russell’s conflict of interest means he is completely unable to stand up for refugees and stand up to Reform.
"Multinational corporations have no place in our politics, especially ones which receive government contracts."
An SNP spokesperson said: “This will certainly raise eyebrows in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse – Scottish Labour must come clean.”
A Labour source, who was critical of the omission and told the Guardian the selection process was tightly controlled, added: “It’s outrageous they’re trying to hide it. The party needs to be straightforward with the public about the candidates it’s putting forward.”
Scottish Labour would not comment directly on why it had not mentioned Russell’s links to Mears.
“Prior to being a candidate, Davy Russell used his expertise in local government to support work being done at North Lanarkshire council,” a spokesperson said.
“It’s this lifetime of experience in delivering public services he will use to deliver for the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.”
Mears is one of the UK’s largest housing and maintenance groups. It has ties with South Lanarkshire council and other Scottish local authorities, and has contracts with the Home Office to house asylum seekers in the area.
Scottish Labour is facing defeat in the by-election, and fears it could come in third behind Reform UK, which would send shockwaves through Scottish politics ahead of the Holyrood 2026 election.
Recent polling has suggested Reform could become the official opposition in the Scottish Parliament.
